Read Online Tethered by Pippa Jay - Free Book Online Page B

like shedding a plague of beetles and forcing the woman to jump back.
    “My lady!”
    “Rig off,” Tyree growled, raking her fingers through her hair to pull at the braids.
    Visaya flushed scarlet. “As my lady wishes,” she whispered before leaving.
    Tyree glared at her reflection then tugged out the remaining braids. She’d be damned if she’d go through this every frigging morning. No one outside herself, Zander, and their small entourage were going to see her until they reached Centralis . Time enough when she’d have to maintain the farce. But not now.
    Hair loose about her shoulders without the torturous knots, Tyree reflected on her behavior. She shouldn’t have snapped at Visaya. The woman was only doing her job, same as Tyree.
    She shrugged off the guilt, smoothing down the short copper dress she’d chosen. The long ones tangled around her legs too much. Her outfit bordered on breaking Decorum, but she didn’t care. She slipped on her stealth shoes, blatantly ignoring the shelves of fancier and far less practical footwear Mirsee had favored. Or had they been part of her assigned wardrobe? Tyree was beginning to suspect Mirsee had been given no choice in anything, not even her clothing. What normal person would wear that kind of crud unless they were made to? Inc-Su were tied to Refuge, but at least they had freedom in all other things. She doubted Mirsee ever had.
    More anger scorched through her. She stalked to the panoramic main hall...and found no one there and the view of Terris shuttered. Shock spiked into her chest. It gave her a strange sense of unease to see Zander’s chair empty. Only four days in and already she’d become accustomed to seeing him sitting here, his back to the door so he could watch the planet below turn. Perhaps he’d seen no point being here if she refused to join him.
    “Monitor, where is Zander?”
    “Zander D’joren is in the media suite.”
    Before breakfast?
    Tyree made a slow turn and wandered in the direction of the suite. Zander had sent her a timetable that so far he’d never strayed from, as if the routine were essential. For him to break it today seemed out of character, even from what little she knew. Had she done that? Disturbed him as much as he did her?
    Thuds resounded from the media suite as she neared it. Whatever he was doing, it sounded active. She hesitated at the door. What was the protocol for this? In Refuge no one would dare interrupt another’s training, but that hadn’t stopped Zander intruding on hers. Without another thought she slapped the lock.
    A Manikin shot toward her and she jumped back as it slammed against the doorframe. It righted itself and charged back at Zander. Tyree sucked in a breath. Another Manikin faced Zander already, exchanging a flurry of blows, and the ex-Warden seemed unaware of the second’s rapid approach.
    Two Manikins at once?
    “Zander!” She threw herself at the second, tripling her density as she hit it. Her weight floored it before it could reach Zander, but he’d turned at Tyree’s shout and the first Manikin wrapped its arms around his torso.
    “Hold!”
    The Manikins froze. Tyree scrambled to her feet as Zander shrugged off the Manikin holding him. He’d tied back his hair and the scars showed livid red across his face. His chest heaving, he stalked toward her and Tyree braced herself, sliding into combat mode at the aggression in his posture.
    Her reaction stopped him dead. “I’m not planning to fight you,” he panted, raising his hands with palms toward her.
    Tyree dropped her hands but anger kept her tensed. “Why two?” she demanded. “You’re human, not Inc-Su. What if you’d been damaged? How would the Tier-vane take another delay?”
    His expression froze. “Point taken,” he acknowledged, inclining his head. “Although as we discussed before, human Manikins are programmed not to injure.”
    “Still a risk.” Tyree bristled. Why was he making her job harder with